Liquid-dropper.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. PITTS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

LIQUID-DROPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 688,544, datedDecember 10, 1901.

Application filed February 13, 1900. Serial No. 5,074- (No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM B. PITTS, a citizen. of the United States,residing at East Cain street, Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and Stateof Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Droppers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which forms a part of this specification.

This invention is directed to improvements in devices for droppingliquids such as medicinal compounds, and has for its object theproduction of a simply and inexpensively constructed appliance by theoperation'of which drops or minims of correct and regular size may beformed without the necessity ofdelicate manipulation.

The nature of myinvention will be readily comprehended by reference tothe following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing, inwhich is shown in vertical sectional View a liquid-dropper embodying myinvention,

Referring to the said drawing by letter, A denotes a liquid-receptaclehavinga contracted upper portion or neck, in which is removably inserteda stopper B, preferably of rubber. In the stopper are longitudinalopenings, one of which, 6, receives a tube 0, of siphon form, in thatits upper portion beyond I the stopper is curved, and at the dischargeend of this tube is a bead 0, having a lower extended flat surface, thesize of whichis such that under capillary attraction liquid will adhereuntil the formation of a drop approximatingin measurement one minim. Thelong leg of the siphon is preferably of such alength as will permit ofits being lowered to the bottom of the receptacle, whereby the lattermay be exhausted without the necessity of its being inverted. By reasonof the length of said leg also and the facility of adjustment it may beused with receptacles of differing depths. The other stopper-opening 1)receives a tube or stem (1, on the upper end of which is a head 01,affording means for air-tight connection with a compressible bulbD,preferably of rubber. The aperture of the stem (1 is of exceedin glysmall diameter-say one one-hundredth of an inch-and is thereforerelatively much smaller than the diameter of the tube 0. The

.the receptacle, the result being that drops of correct and regular sizeare slowly formed and maybe counted with reduced liability of error.

By the use of my improved appliance I am enabled to form drops which areperfect according to the requirement of the Um'tedStates Pharmacopet'a,which is sixty drops to the fluid dram or four hundred and eighty (480)drops to the fluid ounce, such result being due to the restrictedair-inlet, which, as above stated, so controls the admission of air thatthe liquid discharge is limited to drops of correct and uniformmeasurement.

Inasmuch as the tube 0 is liquid-sealed, the stopper acts as a closurefor the receptacle and excludes air from the contents when the applianceis not in use.

I claim as my invention- A liquid-dropper comprising a receptacle forthe liquid, a stopper, a siphon-shaped tube leading through the stopperinto the lower portion of the receptacle, said tube having at itsextreme outer or discharge end an enlargement providing an extended flatsurface for the formation of the drop, anda compressed-air-inlet tubeleading into the upper portion of the receptacle through the stopper,said air-tube having a minute aperture of the described diameter,whereby the admission of air to the receptacle and the liquid dischargetherefrom are limited, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of witnesses.

WILLIAM Witnesses:

V. M. I-IYATT, J. M. HUNNIOUTT, B. W. PARKER.

B. PrrTs.

